Toy vehicle frame



Dec. 30, 1930. q R. BURNS 1,787,034

T0 1 VEHICLE FRAME Fi1e d Jan. 17, 1930 Patented Dec. 30, 1930 PATENT .oFFfI CE rsmw BU N QH QAGQ ILLINOIS TOY VEHICLE Application filed January 17, 1930. Serial No. 421,542

This invention relates to and has for its object the provision of a frame structure designed for use in conjunction with an article, such as a container, whereby the article may 5 be con r o a toy v h e YVith the above and other objects in View, as, will be apparent, this invention consists in the construction, combination and arrangem nt f p al sh re nafter mer ful y 10 described, claimed and illustrated in the accompanying drawing, wherein:

Fig. 1 illustrates a completetoy vehicle embodying a container of the household Variety, equipped with a pair of the demountable frames forming the subject matter of this invention;

Fig. 2 is a similar view illustrating a somewhat modified type of demountable frame.

The demountable frameforming the subject of this, invention comprises a cradle of w r r h r suitabl m ter e part a ly embracing a body or container, and having free ends rebent upon corresponding or adjacent portions of the cradle to reinforce said cradle,

and terminatingin stub axles or in mountings for suitable wheel-receiving means.

In the drawings, 10 represents a length of wire or similar material adapted to be bent into a variety of suitable forms to conform generally to the contour of the container with which it coacts. This invention contemplates that the material used in the construction of the demountable frame be such as to furnish suflicient resiliency and flexibility to provide 35 a substantially firm attachment or snug connection with a container.

The construction of a demountable frame forming the subject matter of this invention involves a series of loops and bends of various sizes according to the size and contour of the container to be operated upon. For example, and without limiting the application of this invention to a single style of container, further reference to the invention herein will relate to the cylindrical type container illustrated in the drawings.

In order to form the demountable frame illustrated in Fig. 1, a length of wire is bent to form an incomplete circle or arc, thereby 9 creating a cradle 5. This cradle 5, WlllGlL coincides with the contour of the corresponding surface of the container C to beconverted into a toy vehicle, and is of suflicient size to embrace the major portion of the circumference of the cylindrical container, thereby providing resilient self-gripping means. The cradle 5 constitutes the basic structure of the demountable frame. The free ends 6 of the wire or other material formingthe cradle 5 are rebent and folded back up and against the arms of the cradle 5 and extend to points adjoining the base of said cradle. The rebent portions 6 of the wire arc, at predetermined points, looped or wrapped about the wire forming the sides of the cradle 5 with free portions 13 thereof occupying substantially vertical planes. At their lower ends these portions 13 of the wire are again bent out- Wardly at approximately right angles to provide stub axles 1 1 for supporting and mount ing the wheels 15.

The well known means of offsetting or other mutilation of the wire as at 16, may be employed to prevent the wheel 15 fro-m being displaced from the axle 14. I j

It is apparent from the foregoing that a single section of Wire is manipulated and bent to create a cradle 5 for the engagement of'a container C, said cradle conforming to the general contour of said container and at the same time the free ends of the wire so used are positioned in a. horizontal plane to act as axles for the wheels 15. Thus by engaging the container in one or more of the cradles 5 and placing the wheels 15 on the stub axles 14, the container may be converted into a toy 4 vehicle.

, In ig; 2 is illustrated a'modified form of the cradle constructedgenerally in the same manneras is the cradle heretofore described and shown in Fig. land being in. two pieces instead of one. The two-piece construction, as d s inguished. r m th n -P ers a y heretofore described, is obtained by forming th cradle 5 as above described, and rebending the free ends 6 likewise above described. These free ends 6 are not wrapped about the wire forming the cradle 5 but terminate in substantially vertical extensions 7 which in turn are each prev-idea With a loopl'? atits ends. These loops 17 .are alined one with the other in the plane of the cradles. The axle member 8 being an element independent of the cradle 5 embracing the container C, is mounted in the loops 17 formed at the terminals of the extension 7. As in the form of the invention shown in Fig. 1', the wheels 15 are mounted on the axle member. 7

lVhat is claimed is:

1. The combination with a body, means for converting said body into'a vehicle comprising .a main spring member adapted toembrace a portion of said body and maintain engagement therewith solely through the spring action of said member, auxiliary members formed integrally therewith,and Wheel supporting means coacting with said auxiliary members, l

' 2. A device for converting a body into a vehicle comprising a frame having upwardly disposed arms, means for reinforcing said arms formed integrally therewith, terminating in Wheel supporting means. v

3. A device for converting a' body into a vehicle comprising a frame having a central portion formed into upwardly disposed arms, remote end portions terminating in whee] supporting means, and substantially vertical portions intermediate said central and end portions.

' 4. The combination with a body and means for converting the same intoa vehicle, comprising a frame having a central portion adaptedto embrace said body, each end portion of said member being folded back upon the adjacent or corresponing central portion, and wheel supporting means coacting therewith. r

5. A device for converting a body into a vehicle comprising a length of wire having a portion, centrally of its ends, bent to form integrally therewith and having a section thereof looped about itself, and terminating ina horizontal portion to provide an axle for supporting a wheel.

11. A device for converting a body into a vehicle comprising resilient body-engaging arms, each having a section thereof bent back upon and loopedabout said arm and a horizontal section at'the terminal of each bent back portion to provide an axle for supporting a wheel.

12. A device forfconverting a body into a vehicle comprising resilient body-engaging arms, each having a section thereof bent back upon itself and terminating in a loop, and wheel supporting means coacting therewith. 13. A=removabledevice for converting a container into'a'vehiclecomprising a spring cradle constituting a pair of spaced arms formed to correspond to the container and adapted to engage and clamp the container therebetween, said cradle including means for removably mounting wheels thereon.

14. Areinovable device for converting a container into a vehicle comprising a spring cradle constituting a pair of spaced arms formed to correspond to the container and adapted-to engage and clamp the container therebetween, and means coacting with said spring cradle for securing wheels thereto.

ONSLOW' R. BURNS.

a cradle, each'of its free ends being'folded or doubled back upon the adjacent or corresponding central portion, and terminating in a horizontal portion to provide an axle for supporting a wheel.

6. A device for'coverting a body into a 1' vehicle comprising a length of wire having a central portion partially embracing said body in compressed relation, each end portion of said wire being folded or doubled back upon the adjacent or corresponding central portion "and terminating in arhorizontal portion adapted to receive a wheel.

7 In combination with" a body, a length of 'Wire adapted to embrace a portion of said body in compressed relation, reinforcing means formed'integr'a'lly therewith terminate,

ing-in integral wheel receiving means.

8.v A devicefor converting a body'into a A vehicle 7 comprising resilient body-engaging arms, means for reinforcing .said, arms formed integrally therewith, terminating in wheel. supporting means.

9. A device for convertinga body into a lio 

